Self-sealing coupling



Feb. 15, 1949. F, HAGUE 2,461,818

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' ,ArToRNb-y mama Feb'. 1s, 194e SELF-SEALING COUPIING Fred Hague, Devon, Pa., assigner to Sun Oil Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 7, 1946, Serial No. 688,819

A Claims. (Cl. 284-19) This invention relates to hose couplings and more particularly to a coupling which operthe inlet and the outlet sections and hence prevents spillage from the supply and receivmg hoses.

Hose couplings of the present invention are of the type used in loading and unloading tank trucks and tank cars etc'.,.where it is necessary to unite a' hose permanently xed to a vehicle, with a liquid supply or liquid dispensing-hose. It is especially designed to operate under conditions existing where highly volatile liquids are transferred, and insure against loss by leakage or evaporation.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a hose'coupling of two sections both of which remain sealed against passage of iluid therethrough until opened by the pressure of a supply stream entering the outlet member. Another object is to provide for independently sealing each section of the coupling when the coupling members are disengaged, to thereby prevent leakage from each coupling section.v

Another object is to permanently secure to the vehicle hose section, and supply or dispensing hose section, complemental coupling members which can be readily and rapidly engaged or disengaged.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent by reference to the following specification read in connection with the drawings, in which:

. Figure'l is a longitudinal section of one of the coupling members.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the cooperating coupling member.

Figure 3 isv a longitudinal section vshowing the coupling members joined and the relative position they assume when under pressure.

Figure 4 is a reduced section on line 4-4 of Figure 1. i

The coupling device oi the invention is comprised of a female member as shown in Figure 1 and a male member as shown in Figure 2. The female memberin Figure 1 includes a body F,

which preferably is formed with an external ange or lip 5 to be received in annual groove 25 engaging and disengaging the'members. When female member Fand provides a lseal with one end of the male member M.

Referring again to Figure l, amovable valve member 1 is positioned within coupling body F and is provided with boss portions 8 and 9 and a packing ring I0 is ilxed on the valve member 1 providing a seal when the member is in closed position. A guide rod II has one end secured in boss 9 and a helical spring I2 is positioned therearound and held between the valve member 1 and a guide I3 having a central bore I4 to receive the shaft II for reciprocative movement when the valve member 1 is in motion.

The ribs I5 supporting guide I3 form a spider which is secured in fixed position to flanged member I6 which in turn is detachably held as by bolts between flange I1 on hose section N and flange I8 on body member F. An air vent valve 20 is formed as an integral part of coupling body F connecting with flange or lip 5 through aperture 2l.

To insure alignment of valve member 1 when it is moved to open or closed position, a plurality of ribs I9, shown in detail in Figure 4 are provided to form bearing or frictional sliding surfaces for the outer periphery of the valve member.

The outlet section or male member M, in the closed position is shown in Figure 2. A movable valve 22, positioned within coupling body M, is provided with a slot or groove 23 and a packing ring 24 recessed therein to effect a seal when the member is in the closed position. Annular groove 25, recessed in the male housing M, between outer ring 26 and the male body member M, is providedv with a quick engaging and releasing device, such as the latching elements 21. Shaft 28, centrally positioned Within housing M, is secured to valve 22 so as to slidably engage the centrally positioned spider 30. The rib structure of spider 30 acts as a stop for spring 29, centrally positioned about shaft 28, which is retained by the nut and washer assembly shown in 3I. A pressure relief valve 32 and bleeder pipe 33 are let into the male couplingchamber M.

The coupling in the operating position withv both the male and female body members engaged is shown in Figure 3. Upon joining the coupling members the groove or aperture 23 in the male valve component 22 engages the .boss 8 of the female valve element 1, while packing ring 6 affects a seal substantially as shown. The direction of ilow indicated by arrows in outlet hose O and inlet hose N shows the movement of uid the members are engaged as shown in Figure 3, a

ring-6 lis spring pressed against the inner wall of under pressure which forces valve 22, centrally located within the male body member M, to en- `gage the valve l in the 3 .l /y female body member F. The forward movement of the lvalve member 22 inlthe male body member M, caused by the pressure of the iluid transmitted through hose O. compresses spring 29 and forms a passage around the cooperating valves, permitting the fluid to flow through the spider and rib supports 30 to inlet hose N. Alignment of the male valve member 22 is preserved by shaft 28 moving in sliding engagement through centrally positioned spider l andthe support of boss 8 on valve l cooperating with groove 23 on the face of` valve 22. These valve heads, it will be noted, are designed to present a minimum of interference to the ow of the huid. Valve member 'I in the female body member F moves in the direction of flow because of the action' of the male member as just described, compressing spring l2, and comes to rest in a fully open position against the rib supported guide I3. The movement of the valve in the female body member is guided' by shaft Il slidably cooperating with the guide I3 and is further supported by ribs I9 which are shown more fully in Figure 4. Upon release of the uid pressure spring l2 expands, pushing valve l into the end of the female body member F, forming a seal with the machined surface of the valve body cooperating with packing ring I0. During the same movement valve 22 in the male body member M is withdrawn by the expansion of spring 29 to resume its position against the machined surface cooperating with packing ring 24. It is thus evident that the closing motion is contrary to the direction of flow of the fluid which caused the valve members of the coupling to move into the open position. This return movement caused by the springs acting on the male and female valve members respectively is assisted by the back pressure of the'iiuid operating against valve 'H in the female body member F, and the release of pressure in the male vbody member M through relief valve 32 and bleeder pipe 33. The closed position will therefore be resumed by shutting off the uid pressure while the coupling members are still engaged. Air admitted through air vent valve 2li and aperture 2l enables the coupling members to be rapidly separated by breaking the suction established between the machined faces of the valve members.

I claim 1. A hose coupling including an inlet section and an outlet section, each of said sections having a valve seat and an axially movable valve member therein, each of said valve members comprising a head and stem, a spider bearing transversely positioned in each section, the stems of said valves slidably supported by the hubs of said spider bearings, thereby preserving the valve alignment, springs disposed about said valve 'stems in abutting contact with the spider bearings to maintain said valves normally seated until uid pressure is applied to the valve member in the inlet section, and means for detachably coupling said sections together and positioning said valve members in abutting relation.

2. A `hose coupling including an inlet section and an outlet section, each of said sections having a valve seat and an axially movable valve member therein, guide means for each valve member to permit axial movement and preserve the alignment of said valve members, spring means to maintain said valves normally seated 4 until fluid pressure is applied to the valve member in the inlet section, and means for detachably coupling said sections together and positioning said valve members in abutting'relation.

3. A hose coupling including an inlet section and an outlet section, each of said sections having a valve seat and an axially movable valve member therein, guide means for each valve member to permit axial movement and preserve the alignment of said valve members, spring means to maintain said valves normally seated until fluid pressure is applied to the valve member in the inlet section, means for detachably coupling said sections together and positioning said valve members in abutting relation, and a pressure reduction means cooperating with. the inlet section comprising a relief valve and bleeder Pipe- 4. A hose coupling including an inlet section and an outlet section, each of said sections having a valve seat and an axially movable valve member therein, guide means for each valve member to permit axial movement and preserve the alignment of said valve members, spring means to maintain said valves normally seated y until iiuid pressure is applied to the valve member in the inlet section, means for detachably coupling said sections together and positioning said valve members in abutting relation, a relief valve and bleeder pipe cooperating with the inlet section, and means in the outlet section to admit air to the abutting valve members during uncoupling.

5, A hose coupling including an inlet section and an outlet section, each of said sections having a valve seat and an axially movable valve member therein, each of Vsaid valve members comprising a head and stem, a spider Within the inlet section positioned to slidably support within its hub the valve member stem in axial alignment therein, aligning means vfor the valve member in said outlet section comprising a spider and a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs disposed peripherally about said valve head on the inner wall of the outlet section, spring means disposed about said valve stems abutting the spider hubs for maintaining each of said valve members normally seated until fluid pressure is applied to the valve member in the inlet section, means for detachably coupling said sections together and p0- sitioning said valve heads inabutting relation, a relief valve and bleeder pipe cooperating with the inlet section to release pressure prior to uncoupiing, and means in the inlet section to admit air to the abutting valve heads to break adhesion on uncoupling.

FRED HAGUE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name j Date 166,489 Westinghouse Aug. 10, 1875 949,329 Pahlow Feb. 15, 1910 `1,779,421 Cox Oct. 28, 1930 1,850,879 Hunt ,7--.. Mar. 22, 1930 2,173,295 Coles Sept. 19, 1939 2,278,580 Coles Apr. 7, 1942 2,299,193 Trautman Oct. 20, 1942' 2,322,449 Johnson- June 22, 1943 

